The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-08-27
MISS RHETr MYRON.
A Strange Story of the War rom
South Carol ma


South Carol ma
Ecige6eld Is. CT Cor. dtdntd Constitution.
The death of Col W. r. Smith, which
took place in Me-. York a few weeks since,
has brought to light very remarkable incl
dent. Miss Rhett Myron, the principal
figure in the drama, is personal friena OF
your correspondent, and from her the fol-
lowing facts have been obtained, with per-
mission for their publication:
Hayne Myron, the father of this young
lady, was planter in South Carolina. Ills
home was a typical Southern home, spacious
and hospitable, surrounded by broad acres,
and faithful slaves His family consisted OF
his wife and Rhett, who was then little
child, and the idol of her father, as well as
the pet of the plantation. At the breaking
out of the war, in the fall of 1861, Hayne
Myron joined volunteer South Carolina
regiment.
Before leaving home he had a picture OF
his little girl painted in miniature, ana IN
cased it in a locket that he placed next 10
his heart, saying: My darling, this VIII DE
papas shield when he is in danger, and ms
sunshine when he rests" and with eyes filed
with tears, he smothered the face andsunny
head of his child with farewell kisses, and
hurried away from his peaceful home ont 10
the world of danger. Six months later, IN
a skirmish in Virginia, Hayne Myron was
killed, in close combat, by Federal officer
Only a few words were sent to the old home
to tell the sad story.
During Gen. Sherman's invasion into
South Carolina tie Myron homestead was
destroyed. The widow and daughter con
tinued to live on the plantation i'll an out
building. supported by the rents from the
lands. Two years ago Mrs Myron died,
and through the influence Of friends, Miss
Myron obtained position as governeSS IN
the family of Col. w. r. Smith, of New
work. She stated to me that her first meet
ing with Col Smith was peculiar That
when his wife introduced her to him, say
ing, This is our new governesS from
South Carolina, Miss Rhett Myron,"
his face became deathly white, and
he gave sudden start. QHe was absent
from home when Mrs Smith engaged herl
He mechanically shook hands with her and
tried to speak, but his lips seemed sealed.
But later his manner changed to kindness
and cordially, and she was treated more as
an honored guest than salaried teacher.
He insisted on paying her four times the
amount she charged for her services, and
made her duties light. One evening she
was sitting in the family circle, telling of
her past life down in South Carolina, of the
spacious house with its twenty columns, of
the dusky slaves, who used to sit her on
queen" as they carried her through the cot
ton fields that looked like seas of snow foam.
For the first time she spoke of her
father, how handsome and sad he looked as
he went away on that dreadful last day;
how he took her picture with him, and told
all he said. She states that she was forced
to stop in the midst of her words for Col.
Smith turned CHASTITY pale and left the room.
IL all seemed strange TO me then, she said,
continued to live with Col Smiths family
for two years. st was a haven and home
to me" She said; Il had so long toiled and
worked on our plantation, isolated from
society and all advantages, it was like
fairy life had opened to me of ease and
luxury, but my heart was almost breaking
as | remembered all that | had lost in those
sad sweet days"
Six weeks ago Col Smith was taken sud
denly i'll, and when he realized that death
was inevitable he expressed desire to see
Miss Myron alone. She states that as she
neared the bed of the dying man, she saw
him holding something convulsively in one
hand, as he extended the other to her and
exclaimed: "Rhett Myron, forgive me be-
fore / die; without your pardon | cannot
| die; come close and listen to what have to
tell you. 1t was | who made you an
| orphan, my hands are red with your
fathers blood. Take this, he said, hand
ing me the package, ~ found it on his
dying breast; it is your face; your name and
| his name are upon it. Take it and forgive
one who has tried to expiate the wrongs
done you. Oil can you forgive dying
man2" and the voice became faint and low
ooh! sir. you both were soldiers; / freely
! forgive" and the poor girl, who could say
no more, fell unconscious to the floor
THANK God, he murmured and all was
! over.
When Rhett Myron recovered, the man
who had killed her father, and who was
| later the best friend she ever knew, was
dead. In his will he bequeathed to her the
| generous sum of $4,000 He also left let
| ter giving all the particulars of her fathers
| death. Only few days ago | saw the pic
| ture-a sweet child face, in an azure cloud,
and on the little plush case were marks of
blood. This is certainly the most reparka-
BILE incident it has ever been my privilege
| to record.